Mobilizing Additional Volunteers to Louisiana

Posted August 29, 2016

The American Red Cross has mobilized a massive relief effort, providing shelter, food and comfort to people impacted by widespread flooding in Louisiana. More than 2,500 Red Crossers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, are on the ground helping in Louisiana. In addition, hundreds of local volunteers are supporting relief efforts. At the peak of the floods, more than 50 Red Cross and community shelters provided refuge for more than 10,000 people.

Mental health disaster workers are visiting shelters to offer comfort. Health services volunteers are helping with things like lost eyeglasses and medications. The Red Cross has also mobilized more than 90 disaster response vehicles, including vehicles based in Rochester and Syracuse, and trailer-loads of shelter and kitchen supplies to bolster relief efforts. Some of the supplies arriving include water, personal hygiene items, insect repellant, cleaning kits, bleach and other important supplies. Where flood waters have receded, the Red Cross is distributing meals and relief supplies.

Here in the Western and Central New York Region, 41 of the area’s volunteers are joining the disaster response.

Central New York Chapter:

John Aldasch – Canastota - Sheltering

May Becker - Fayetteville - Client Casework –Fiscal Review (virtual)

John Carroll – Camillus - Service Associate - Feeding

Harry Dashnau - Baldwinsville - Sheltering

Ed Dienst – Skaneateles- Community Partnerships

Gordon Howard – Tully - Bulk Distribution

Bill Looft – Oneida – Emergency Response Vehicle

William Morris - Syracuse - Bulk Distribution Supervisor

Robert Mueller- Manlius - Service Associate/Feeding

Mark Paikin- Fayetteville - Staff Relations Manager

Michelle Sopchack- Syracuse – Emergency Response Vehicle

Ken Stapleton- Cicero - Disaster Assessment

Frank VanSickle- Cortland - Client Casework (virtual)

Finger Lakes Chapter:

Lorraine Morris- Bath - Disaster Services Technology

Greater Rochester Chapter:

Deborah Craft – Penfield – Mass Care/Feeding

John Craft – Penfield – Mass Care/Feeding

Pamela Hatch – Ontario – Emergency Response Vehicle

Gail Hirst – Rochester - Client Casework (virtual)

Sarah Perkins- Pittsford - Disaster Assessment

Bill Platt-Rochester-Disaster Planning

James Robinson- East Rochester - Bulk Distribution

Mark Sennett-Rochester-Mass Care/Feeding

Southern Tier Chapter

Susan Barr – Brooktondale - Sheltering

Nancy Hall –Trumansburg - Client Casework (virtual)

Charles Haupt- Owego - Bulk Distribution Manager

Donald Nelson- Endicott - Shelter Supervisor

Melanie Pandich – Binghamton – Training Supervisor

Greg Papa – Vestal – Emergency Response Vehicle

Greg Patinka – Binghamton -Sheltering

David Ruston- Binghamton - Sheltering

Bill Spangenburg – Vestal – Bulk Distribution

Joseph Stover- Dryden - Logistics – Warehouse Manager

Roseanne Sullivan – Johnson City – Health Services

Michael Thomas- Ithaca - Shelter Supervisor

Dianne Zavada- Vestal - Sheltering

Peter Zelno- Vestal - Bulk Distribution

Western New York Chapter:

Jay Bonafede –Tonawanda- Disaster Public Affairs

Pat Coate –Allegany - Sheltering

Cynthia Manne- Depew- Disaster Mental Health

Diane Sargent-Lockport- Bulk Distribution

Elizabeth Shook-Cuba- Staff Services

BECOME A VOLUNTEER To join us, visit redcross.org today to learn more about volunteer opportunities and how to submit a volunteer application.

DOWNLOAD EMERGENCY APP People can download the free Red Cross Emergency App now to be ready in case of a disaster in their community. They can use the app’s “I’m Safe” button to connect with their loved ones. The Emergency App can be found in the app store for someone’s mobile device by searching for “American Red Cross” or by going to http://redcross.org/apps